# School sued over cameras in locker rooms **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 2, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801 "2003-07-02T16:41:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/1 "2003-07-02T16:41:38Z")
[Cameras placed in locker room result in lawsuit.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030702/ap_on_re_us/locker_room_cameras_2) Is that even LEGAL? How can they get away with that? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/2 "2003-07-02T16:55:51Z")
I would love to see how the school explains this one. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/3 "2003-07-02T16:59:13Z")
WHen I read this all I could think was, “Who in the world ever thought this was a good idea?” Good Lord! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/4 "2003-07-02T17:03:27Z")
Someone needs a stiff penalty. ---
**Author:** ![cleosia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@cleosia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleosia)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/5 "2003-07-02T17:05:02Z")
The administration voyeurs and pedophiles, that’s who ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/6 "2003-07-02T17:13:27Z")
Well, we’re about done with the whole Catholic Church pedophilia scandal. I think it’s about time we loose the ravenous media dogs on Eductation. > [@](#): > > William Needham, director of Overton County Schools, said the assistant principal has been transferred to another school in the system. They learn from the best! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/7 "2003-07-02T17:17:48Z")
You know, this is why education is going straight downhill in this country. I mean, the people in charge of the schools when I was there weren’t exactly rocket scientists, but my heavens, they look like Nobel prizewinners next to whoever dreamed THIS one up! ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/8 "2003-07-02T17:24:48Z")
Gee, I wonder if this can be explained by the war on drugs, or maybe the war on terrorism… better be safe, and rally 'round the administration and support them in this. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/9 "2003-07-02T17:44:35Z")
Local analysis [here](http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/07/35346722.shtml?Element_ID=35346722) > [@](#): > > No state or federal guidelines regulate where school cameras can be installed. But, a 1999 National Institute of Justice report on the appropriate use of security technology — endorsed by the U.S. Education Department and reviewed by many school security directors, including Metro schools’ Joe Anderson — states that **cameras should not be used in areas where there is a ‘‘reasonable expectation of privacy’’ such as bathrooms, locker rooms and private offices.** Slam dunk idiocy to have hidden cameras in locker rooms or bath rooms. Monstrous stupidity to have images accessible from the net. **Mama Tiger** > [@](#): > > You know, this is why education is going straight downhill in this country. …generalize much? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/10 "2003-07-02T17:46:07Z")
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: Utterly hideous. God, sometimes I just want to lay into these people with baseball bats… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/11 "2003-07-02T18:01:01Z")
The stupidity by the administration is one thing: school administrations are frequently filled with thoughtless, disrespectful assholes. The fact that the security firm seemed to have no problem doing this without considering either legal consequences or just the _rightness_ of the act is horrific. And making images accessible on the internet? Yeah. Good thinking. Nobody could possibly use _that_ for anything. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/12 "2003-07-02T18:07:41Z")
Who in their right mind would say “sounds good let’s go ahead and install them”?? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/13 "2003-07-02T18:16:21Z")
That assistant principal sounds really creepy. I wonder if the parents at his new school are aware that he’s a voyeristic pervert. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/14 "2003-07-02T18:22:22Z")
If I lived near whatever school that assistant principal was transferred to, I’d be making damn sure parents knew exactly what happened to get him transferred there. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/15 "2003-07-02T18:29:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Who in their right mind would say “sounds good let’s go ahead and install them”?? \*\* No kidding. We had to give written permission to have snapshots taken of our kid in the _classroom_ for her kindergarten yearbook. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/16 "2003-07-02T18:40:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beagledave \* > \*\*\*\*…generalize much? :rolleyes: \*\* [hijack]Well, having seen the constant downward spiral of the type and quality of work my kids were expected to do in school versus what I was expected to do, yes, that’s my opinion. I remember having to write thoughtful, 10-page essays in 7th grade; my kids were being taught how to write formulaic PARAGRAPHS in 7th grade, and never had more than a 3-page paper assigned to them at ANY time in high school. And I’m talking about in five different high schools in five different states between the two of them. My son, who’s a truly gifted writer, actually had to retake the basic skills writing test in one state because his writing was so intelligent and creative that it fell outside their mandatory formula. And we won’t even open the can of worms of the dumbing down of textbooks. My dad was a textbook editor for many years, however, so I can assure you I have firsthand knowledge of this as well. I also have a good friend who’s an English professor at a well-known university who assures me that I am right on target, judging from what he’s seen in his 30 years of teaching.[/hijack] Back to the OP: Thank heaven both my kids were in school pre-internet. I think I’d be tearing someone’s head off over this one! ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/17 "2003-07-02T18:43:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*That assistant principal sounds really creepy. I wonder if the parents at his new school are aware that he’s a voyeristic pervert. \*\* It’s possible that he is a voyeuristic pervert, but the facts in the story don’t necessarily prove that. Another alternative is that this school (like a lot of middle schools) has had problems with harrassment and bullying behavior in the locker rooms. The assistant principal thought that having hidden cameras to document the behavior would help with “catching” the culprits. FWIW, the middle school in the school district I work for has about 12 cameras placed throughout the building. In this case, they are mostly used to monitor exterior doors to observe who is **entering** the building. There are a couple that monitor interior hallways. There are signs posted on exterior doors to that effect, and the tv monitors are in plain sight in the main office. Until more facts become evident…I’ll chalk this episode up to stupidity rather than voyeuristic perversion. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/18 "2003-07-02T18:47:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mama Tiger \* > \*\*[hijack]Well, having seen the constant downward spiral of the type and quality of work my kids were expected to do in school versus what I was expected to do, yes, that’s my opinion. \*\* Well, no. That’s **not** what you said. You said: > [@](#): > > You know, **this** is why education is going straight downhill in this country IOW, one **isolated** incident in Tennessee (how many other stories of this type have you heard lately?) is proof that “education is going straight downhill in this country”. **That’s** a generalization. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/19 "2003-07-02T18:49:46Z")
Well, I’m sure it began with justifications. “We live in terror of one of the little peckerheads bringing a howitzer to school and secretly assembling the thing in the locker room.” …but I would certainly consider how the media would take this if the word ever got out that there were secret spy cams hidden in the kids’ locker areas. In fact, I would consider it pretty much the end of my career if that ever got out, that I had okayed the things, much less ordered them installed. Then again, I’m not a power-mad loony, like a few school officials I could name. Officials whose view of “reality” is not entirely compatible with the rest of us, if you know what I mean. Unfortunately, that phrase above, “reasonable expectation of privacy,” is, as far as the law goes, a load of crap. Lawyers can argue that one until the cows come home. It’s still vague, and can be interpreted any number of ways. Hell, lots of people don’t think you really have ANY rights until you’re eighteen! Still… I can’t help but wonder who’s going to go up in flames over THIS one. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801/20 "2003-07-02T18:58:53Z")
It would have been a good thing if the torture and humiliation that went on in my JHS lockerroom was somehow recorded. Also the teachers/coaches who knew what went on, and did nothing – I’d like to have a tape of them standing by watching. HOWEVER: the obvious privacy concern trumps this. And as for the pictures being available on the Internet, I would think the parents would have a pretty good case for a lawsuit. That should not go unpunished. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-sued-over-cameras-in-locker-rooms/185801.md?page=2)